Page 9 of Finding Us

Mitzi nods at me, smiling.

“Yes, you can come back.” I turn to face the door.

Harper slowly walks in. She brings her hands to her mouth and her eyes get all watery. “Oh my God, Jade. That’s so you. It’s perfect.” A few tears run down her cheek.

“Harper, why are you crying?”

“Because you found it. You found the perfect dress and it makes me so happy. And because my best friend is getting married. It didn’t seem real until I saw you in this dress. But it’s real now and it just hit me that you’re getting married and moving away and I won’t see you anymore.”

“Harper.” I go to hug her but she backs away.

“No, my lipstick might get on the dress.” She wipes the tears off her face. “Ignore me. I’m happy for you. I really am. I’ll just miss you.” She sniffles as she approaches me again. “That dress looks so great on you, Jade. You’re getting it, right?”

“Yeah, I think I am.” I turn to the old lady. “How much is it?”

“It’s $800 but I know that’s a lot for someone your age so how about $650?”

I glance around at the tiny dressing room, which could use some fixing up. She doesn’t seem to have much inventory either and given her location, I’m sure she doesn’t get much business.

“You really helped me out here,” I tell her. “This dress is perfect and now I don’t have to keep looking. You saved me a ton of time so $800 is fine.” It’s so strange to hear myself say that. A few months ago I never would’ve even considered spending $800 on a dress. I still find it hard to spend that much, but itismy wedding dress and I have millions in the bank. Millions. I can’t even believe I have that much money.

“Then I’ll throw in the shoes for free,” Mitzi says.

“No, you don’t have to do that,” I insist. “Just add it to the bill.”

“I always like to give the bride a little something. How about this?”

She comes over with a hair clip covered in sparkly crystals just like the shoes.

Harper takes the clip. “Jade, this is exactly what you need for your hair. Remember how I told you I was going to put it up and needed a clip? This is perfect.”

I smile at Mitzi. “Thank you. But I’ll pay you for it.”

“Nonsense. It’s my wedding gift to you and the lucky groom.” She pushes her sleeve up and I notice a bright red pincushion attached to her wrist. “Stand up straight. I’ll mark the alterations and then you’re free to go.”

She tugs at the fabric around the neckline and the waist, placing pins here and there, then kneels down and starts yanking on the bottom of the dress until she figures out where the hem should be. Harper’s giggling off to the side at the odd woman. She’s so tiny and yet I’m kind of scared of her.

“When should I pick it up?” I ask her.

“I’ll have it ready in a week. Come get it anytime after that.” She puts one last pin in the hem, then stands up. “Go change.”

“Can I get a picture quick?” Harper asks.

Mitzi doesn’t answer as she leaves the room.

“I don’t think she heard you,” I whisper.

Harper quickly gets her phone out and takes the photo. She helps me off the wooden platform and unzips my dress and I go back behind the curtain.

I change into my regular clothes and put the dress back on the hanger and look at it one last time. It’s such a great dress. Garret’s going to love it.

Before we leave, I pay Mitzi the deposit for the dress. She wraps up the hair clip in some tissue paper and puts the shoes in a box and hands them to me.

Harper and I tell Mitzi goodbye. Then as soon as we’re outside, Harper hugs me. “You found a dress! A dress you actually like. I think you might even love it!”

I smile. “Yeah. I do love it. It’s perfect.”

Finding that store. Finding the dress. It’s like it was meant to be.

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